The Rose Rent

The Thirteenth Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

A late spring in 1142 has the Abbey monks dismayed, for there may be no roses by June 22nd. For three years, the wealthy young widow Judith Perle has rented her house to the monks for the price of a single rose each year. When nature finally complies, a pious monk is sent to pay the rent--and found murdered beside the hacked rose-bush. Without a rose, the monks' rental contract becomes void, adding greatly to the widow's dowry. But before Brother Cadfael can ponder if a greedy suitor has done this dreadful deed, another crime is committed. Now the good monk must thread his way through a tangle more tortuous than the widow's thorny bushes.

Opinion

From the critics

Community Activity

Comment

Another excellent, extremely well-written, well constructed story by Edith Pargeter (Ellis Peters). "The biting wind changed to a temperate breeze, the sun came out over the earth like a warm hand stroking, the seed stirred in the ground and put forth green blades, and a foam of flowers, all the more exuberant for having been so long restrained, burst forth in gold and purple and white over garden and meadow." This is an example of the prose by the talented writer who wrote the Cadfael mysteries. All books, so far, excel. Highly recommend.